Movement of the human foot in 100 pain free individuals aged 18¿45: implications for understanding normal foot function

Abstract

Background: Understanding motion in the normal healthy foot is a prerequisite for understanding the effects of pathology and thereafter setting targets for interventions. Quality foot kinematic data from healthy feet will also assist the development of high quality and research based clinical models of foot biomechanics. To address gaps in the current literature we aimed to describe 3D foot kinematics using a 5 segment foot model in a population of 100 pain free individuals. Methods: Kinematics of the leg, calcaneus, midfoot, medial and lateral forefoot and hallux were measured in 100 self reported healthy and pain free individuals during walking. Descriptive statistics were used to characterise foot movements. Contributions from different foot segments to the total motion in each plane were also derived to explore functional roles of different parts of the foot.Results: Foot segments demonstrated greatest motion in the sagittal plane, but large ranges of movement in all planes. All foot segments demonstrated movement throughout gait, though least motion was observed between the midfoot and calcaneus. There was inconsistent evidence of movement coupling between joints. There were clear differences in motion data compared to foot segment models reported in the literature. Conclusions:The data reveal the foot is a multiarticular structure, movements are complex, show incomplete evidence of coupling, and vary person to person. The data provide a useful reference data set against which future experimental data can be compared and may provide the basis for conceptual models of foot function based on data rather than anecdotal observations.

Peer Review #1 of "Three-dimensional variations in the lower limb caused by the windlass mechanism (v0.1)"

“…If we compare our results in maximum extension with the literature consulted, we verify that our value is 47.59º. Authors such as Nester 27 , Halstead 28 and Nawoczenski 29 consider this value within the normal range of motion of the 1 st MPTJ. However, Root 9 considers that at least 60º extension is necessary to attain correct plantarflexion of the 1st metatarsal 9 .…”

Insertional achilles tendinopathy associated with altered transverse compressive and axial tensile strain during ankle dorsiflexion

“…For the partial squat task, data was analyzed from the initial starting position to 15 ° of tibial inclination. The range of ankle motion during which strains were examined represent the range of motion used during a wide variety of functional tasks, such walking and stair ascent . Therefore, the strain levels examined in the current study represent a magnitude that is likely repeated frequently throughout the day.…”

First metatarsophalangeal joint range of motion is associated with lower limb kinematics in individuals with first metatarsophalangeal joint osteoarthritis

“…Secondly, kinetic data were not collected in this study, which would have allowed greater insight into the loading of the 1 st MTP joint. Thirdly, our kinematic foot model was a simpli ed version of the Salford Foot Model [14], as participants needed to be tested while shod as part of the larger clinical trial. This precluded any analysis of the motion of the midfoot, which has been shown to be signi cantly altered in the presence of 1 st MTP joint OA [4].…”

“…Dorsi exion of the hallux during walking was measured by attaching six passive retro-re ective markers to the medial forefoot (3 markers) and proximal phalanx of the hallux (3 markers) as required for calculation of 1 st MTP joint kinematics using a modi cation of the Salford Foot Model [14]. This model has been used to assess 1 st MTP joint kinematics with acceptable reliability [14]In addition, 32 markers were xed to anatomical landmarks of the trunk, pelvis and lower limb based on the modi ed Helen Hayes marker set [15,16], as well as a customised model to allow for segmental de nition and functional joint calibration. Marker trajectories were collected at a frequency of 100 Hz, and all lower limb joint kinematics were calculated based on Euler angles and described in terms of movement of the distal segment relative to the proximal segment.…”